Goodness gracious, great balls of hell fire – Tony Abbott leader of the Liberal Party by one vote??? Listen to my new parody

The Monk

Vaccinurile împotriva a numeroase boli, inclusiv noua gripă H1N1, considerate periculoase şi costisitoare în trecut, sunt acum motoare de crestere  pentru marile companii farmaceutice. Gigantul elveţian Novartis a lansat săptămâna aceasta, în Statele Unite, o unitate de producţie de vaccinuri, în care va folosi o tehnologie nouă. Investiţia a fost sprijinită de guvernul federal american cu 487 milioane de dolari, scrie BusinessWeek.

În SUA, 50 mil. doze de vaccin împotriva H1N1 au fost distribuite deja, dar ajung doar pentru o treime din cele 160 mil. de americani pe care autorităţile vor să-i vaccineze. Pe termen scurt, cel puţin, vaccinul împotriva gripei noi va duce la creşteri masive ale vânzărilor pentru trei producători europeni. Analiştii estimează că GSK va vinde vaccin anti-H1N1 de 1,7 miliarde de dolari în ultimul trimestru al acestui an. O cifră asemănătoare este aşteptată pentru primele trei luni din 2010. Vânzările Novartis vor ajunge la 700 mil. dolari, iar Sanofi-Aventis se aşteaptă să vândă vaccin împotriva gripei noi de peste 500 milioane de dolari. Dacă, până de curând, doar câţiva mari producători s-au axat pe vaccinuri, din cauza costurilor mari de producţie şi a veniturilor relativ mici, acest segment pare acum să câştige teren. Piaţa medicamentelor cu prescripţie, estimată la 780 miliarde de dolari la nivel global, creşte doar cu 5% pe an, în timp ce piaţa vaccinurilor va avea o creştere de 13% pe an până în 2012, potrivit specialiştilor. “Tot mai multe companii investesc în vaccinuri, ca metodă de diversificare a portofoliului şi datorită noilor tehnologii”, spune Michael Boyd, directorul Federaţiei Internaţionale a Producătorilor şi Asociaţiilor Farma (IFPMA).

Producătorul american Pfizer a intrat pe piaţa vaccinurilor prin preluarea Wyeth, pentru 68 mld. dolari, iar Abbott Laboratories a plătit 6,6 mld. dolari pentru producătorul elveţian de vaccinuri Solvay. Compania britanică GlaxoSmithKline a încheiat recent un contract în valoare de 2,2 mld. dolari cu Brazilia, pentru furnizarea de vaccinuri.

sursa: standard.ro

Acum ramane sa ne gandim daca e profitabil ca “lansezi” un nou virus pe piata sau nu.

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Miniblu

Miniblu este primul si cel mai mare lant de magazine cu produse pentru bebelusi si copii pana la 8 ani, de pe piata din Romania.
Numele Miniblu a fost lansat in 2003, in cadrul celei mai mari retele de farmacii din Romania, Sensiblu. Astfel, in cadrul farmaciilor Sensiblu a fost creata zona M [detalii]

ANTREPRENOR.NET / Francize

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În SUA, 50 mil. doze de vaccin împotriva H1N1 au fost distribuite deja, dar ajung doar pentru o treime din cele 160 mil. de americani pe care autorităţile vor să-i vaccineze. Pe termen scurt, cel puţin, vaccinul împotriva gripei noi va duce la creşteri masive ale vânzărilor pentru trei producători europeni. Analiştii estimează că GSK va vinde vaccin anti-H1N1 de 1,7 miliarde de dolari în ultimul trimestru al acestui an. O cifră asemănătoare este aşteptată pentru primele trei luni din 2010. Vânzările Novartis vor ajunge la 700 mil. dolari, iar Sanofi-Aventis se aşteaptă să vândă vaccin împotriva gripei noi de peste 500 milioane de dolari. Dacă, până de curând, doar câţiva mari producători s-au axat pe vaccinuri, din cauza costurilor mari de producţie şi a veniturilor relativ mici, acest segment pare acum să câştige teren. Piaţa medicamentelor cu prescripţie, estimată la 780 miliarde de dolari la nivel global, creşte doar cu 5% pe an, în timp ce piaţa vaccinurilor va avea o creştere de 13% pe an până în 2012, potrivit specialiştilor. “Tot mai multe companii investesc în vaccinuri, ca metodă de diversificare a portofoliului şi datorită noilor tehnologii”, spune Michael Boyd, directorul Federaţiei Internaţionale a Producătorilor şi Asociaţiilor Farma (IFPMA).

Producătorul american Pfizer a intrat pe piaţa vaccinurilor prin preluarea Wyeth, pentru 68 mld. dolari, iar Abbott Laboratories a plătit 6,6 mld. dolari pentru producătorul elveţian de vaccinuri Solvay. Compania britanică GlaxoSmithKline a încheiat recent un contract în valoare de 2,2 mld. dolari cu Brazilia, pentru furnizarea de vaccinuri.

For political junkies the talk of the last week has been about the Liberal party split on whether or not to support the ALP’s Emissions Trading System (ETS). On one side is Turnbull/Hockey/Pyne and the moderate wing of the party who support an ETS… and on the other side is Abbott/Robb/Minchin and the conservative wing of the party who are desperately trying to stop the legislation from passing.

It’s difficult to see a good outcome for the Liberals.

Abbott has said he will challenge for the leadership on Tuesday. Turnbull responded by throwing a hand grenade into the party, insulting the anti-ETS crowd and insisting that people back him or the Liberals will be destroyed. If Turnbull wins then we are stuck with bad climate policy, angry conservatives deserting the party (which is probably good for the LDP), and a divided parliamentary party with prominent figures on the backbench. But if he loses and quits politics then the Liberals will face a Wentworth by-election (which they may well lose), angry moderates deserting the party, lots of Turnbull quotes to use in the next election, another unhappy ex-leader, and then we may still get stuck with the ETS anyway.

Delaying the vote until February won’t fix the problem. That just means that the debate goes on for another three months and then the Liberals face the same problem again.

The best compromise might be for the Liberals to consider backing a carbon tax, linked to tax cuts and with a McKitrick clause. This would allow the party to unambiguously oppose all types of ETS, it would be a better policy with a wide range of support from economists and some green groups, the associated tax cuts and McKitrick clause should help to placate some conservatives, and the the moderates can be happy that the party is going to “do something”.

Turnbull and Hockey are unlikely to support this position, but Abbott has shown some interest in the idea of a carbon tax.

As the opposition implodes; Abbott, Minchin, Abetz and Parry all resigning from the front bench, a serious question must be asked?

Is the environment a bigger issue than party room philandering over the leadership position?

Some will deny climate change; the same people that are willing to accept the science that can save your life from cancer are locking horns with the science of climate change.

The issue I have is simple: although I don’t find Malcolm Turnbull to be a particularly good leader he has finally shown some balls on an issue that he feels is important. The coalition is littered with members who have vested business interests who, of course, will be wanting to prevent any sort of action that may impact on business practices. State leaders have a duty to protect the citizens of this planet and as long as ‘the economy’ and ‘business’ is placed before our environment the social contract will be deemed void. The Liberals have been waiting for Turnbull to stand up but as soon as he does, and it isn’t in line with their interests, they stab him in the back and try to bring him down. For months I have been fearful that Joe Hockey will take over leadership of the opposition. He is a ranter and a raver, always angry and can never just accept things: he always has to make a scene.

Back to the environment… I am not saying that the ETS is perfect, in fact, it may be far from it. But it is a step in the right direction. The fact that so many concessions were able to be made to make it appealing to ‘business’ however is indicative of the State’s failing power to have total jurisdiction within its borders.

If a state is serious about its sovereignty it must be serious about protecting its citizens. We may not have a gun to our head but we are slowly drowning, slowly burning and slowly suffocating.

GET REAL!

So while the opposition party is busy bitch-slapping each other we continue to burn coal to power this computer.

Peace.

Chrissie Abbott will also be with us next week for December’s theatre spectacular.  As she works mostly with collage  I am intrigued to see what she will come up with, with just pen and paper…

What are you working on today?

The cover of a book about Einstein’s theories and opinions, a  keyboard stand for Little Boots.

What are your main sources of inspiration?

Music, friends, adventures

What did you draw as a child?

Animals

Do you work to music?

I cant work without music

Can you play an instrument?

I used to be able to play the flute and the recorder…bit lame.  I wish I’d learned the drums.

Who are your favourite artists this week?

(if you mean art artists) Martin Creed, Ashley Lande, Erika Somogyi

(musicians) Fleetwood Mac, Elliott Smith, Film School, Apse, Dinosaur Junior

How important is music to your work?

Imperative

Is studying at the right place really important for illustrators/ designers?

I don’t think so…

What’s the best thing you learned at university?

That I could leave.

I am a figure known all around the world, to many different people, as many different things. You can simply call me God. Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I’m here to offer you worldly advice or the secret of life or something like that. Well, that’s not it. Seriously, don’t fret about me; I just wanna tell you a story.

It is currently April 23, 2006, 2:47 p.m. We are located in the city of Abbott, Arkansas.

The air in the jail cell is drafty yet warm. It presses on Peter’s skin, forming tiny beads of sweat on his partially bald head. Peter stands at 5′9″, weighs 233 pounds, and has small, watery blue eyes. He is currently squatting on his flat mattress, in his bright orange jumpsuit, reading his Bible. Ironic; he’s never been religious before. That’s no matter, though, no matter. In precisely three hours, and now, nine minutes, he will be killed. He will be killed at exactly 6:00 p.m. and there isn’t anything I’m gonna do to stop it.

Peter had a very classic childhood. He was a shiny boy, born in 1959. His mother wasn’t a feminist, she lived her life the way her mother did. His father was an upstanding citizen, respected by many. Like said, all fairly normal. On his seventh birthday, he was dressed in a yellow and brown striped shirt, he wore a small, paper crown that his mother had bought for him, and he was surrounded by his three brothers and one sister. His sister’s name was Patricia. She was probably one of the most compassionate people he had ever known. Peter’s older brother’s left early for school every day in order to not walk with him and his little brother, Timmy. Patricia always waited, even though she was the oldest. Even if it meant being late, she always waited.

His dad was working late; and with one simple phone call, they sat down and ate meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, and were now watching him blow out the candles. He wished for basic things. A new bike or perhaps that really expensive baseball glove he had picked out at the store. His mother fussed over the candles, and the wax that dripped on the cake. She cut perfectly symmetrical pieces, giving him the first one. He absolutely loved being served first. It was the perfect cake on one of the most perfect days he had lived. His baseball glove was wrapped in a dull green paper with trains on it, and a baseball from his brothers and sister was wrapped in matching paper. They had all made him cards, and his parents had bought him a card. All of this thought had made him smile.

After he went to bed, and had maybe been asleep for twenty minutes, his father crept in. He sat at his son’s feet, and lightly shook young Peter awake. When Peter came to, he smiled at him.

“There’s my boy. You’re growing up so fast. You’ll be a man soon, yah know?” He said quietly. Peter knew he had given the same talk to his two older brothers, but it meant so much more when it was directed at him. It made him feel special. “I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I wish I coulda been there tonight. You like you’re present alright?” His father’s voice sounded kind, not authoritative like it usually did.

“Yes, sir, it was perfect.” His father smiled at him slightly, patted him on the head, and exited as quietly as possible. Peter drifted off, the excitement of everything slowly waning.

He continued to turn the aging pages of his Bible. This makes me smile, to see his dedication. His eyes are strained. Peter has been reading for quite some time now, determined to finish before he dies. I can see it. He is afraid, though I am certain he has accepted the inevitable. Time has been granted to him, allowing him to come to dread his impending death. He has waited on death row for six long years. Years of routine and dread. What a way to come to an end.

When he was nineteen, Peter got a job at a diner down the street from the University of Arkansas , where he was studying to be an accountant. Though he was extremely bright, financial aid was lacking, so one afternoon he walked into this rustic, cozy diner with the intention of getting a job with his best friend, Jordan. Mrs. Eberle, the owner, made snide comments at him as he filled out his application. Jordan watched as he mopped the floor.

“I can’t be paying you much, especially if you just plan on standing around,” She snapped at him. Peter smiled and took the remark with a grain of salt. He was at the point of desperation.

“That’s okay, Mrs. Eberle, you pay me what you can afford. I promise I’ll work as hard as I can.” She rolled her eyes at his; and Jordan, a tall, lanky, fellow, chuckled to himself.

“I don’t like a kiss ass either. You start tomorrow, three o’ clock sharp! Black work pants, a white t-shirt, and hats are allowed. I’ll provide you with an apron.” She sidled away; and Jordan shot him thumbs up. Mrs. Eberle was rather large, grey haired, and wore over sized glasses. It was ridiculous, how she looked. However, he beamed with pride at the prospect of making his own living for now.

Peter closed his Bible. He laid back on his bed, his mind swirling with thoughts that none of you, I’m sure, could imagine at this point in time. The fear of not finishing taunted him a little bit. It is the one thing he had left to do, the one thing he felt like he might not finish, and here he was lying down, avoiding it all together. Peter all the time felt nauseous with guilt as he read. He wishes desperately to be with normal society, but he feels as though he deserves to be where he is. His eyes closed, and he drifts slightly into a different world than this.

Even though he had been offered overtime that night, he didn’t take it. Emily, his wife of exactly three years today was waiting at home with his favorite meal- meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. His life was going well, but now it felt complete. They were young and head over heels for one another. He entered their small apartment with a tiny bouquet of carnations. He wished he could afford better for his love, but he couldn’t. Right now they were struggling as is, but he was determined to make this night somewhat special.

She wore a red, knee length skirt, white knit top, and an apron. Her brown hair was pulled tightly into a bun. Emily had been working hard all day to get the meal exactly right. Peter swept right in, with a rather flat stomach and full head of hair, and kissed her hard on the mouth. His happiness had reached an all time high, and he never realized how surreal a home life could be.

Emily giggled and put the carnations in a vase, absolutely thrilled with their beauty. As they sat down to dinner, he talked excitedly about his job. She listened with great attention, and never let it falter. After dinner, they sat on their couch. For the time being, they couldn’t afford a TV, but they sat in silence, enjoying each others company.

The warmth in the apartment was different that the warmth in the cell. Now it is sweltering. It is now 4:34 p.m. Soon, he will be served his chosen meal, then taken into another part of the building, and be killed. He jumps up and starts reading his Bible furiously. He is determined to finish.

None of his family would come to Christmas that year. He watched as Emily and Allie, his now nine year old daughter, put up the decorations. He just got in from shoveling the driveway of their small townhouse. Everything was finally coming together; they had the kind of life that Peter had always wanted to build for them. His daughter bounced around, hanging up her favorite ornaments first. She was a small girl, with brown curly hair. She was perfect in his eyes, everything a father could want in a daughter. Peter had been working extra over time these past few weeks to buy his daughter and wife everything they could want. He bought the really expensive porcelain doll that Allie had wanted, and the pearl necklace that Emily would never even admit she wanted.

“Daddy! Daddy! Put me on your shoulders so I can put the star on top. I wanna do it!” She exclaimed, while pulling on his arm. He chuckled softly. He lifted her up; she was so heavy now. Heavier than he remembered. Emily beamed at her family.

I can see now that Peter has given up. He has reached a passage that has made him stop, and can’t go on. Good thing too. It is five minutes until five, and time for him to eat.

The guard opens the door to his cell and hands him a plate with his dinner on it. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, which is exactly what he had asked for. Peter eats slowly, savoring the flavor that dances on his tastes buds. It’s the perfect meal for a horrible ending. He tries not to think about what is going to happen after he is finished. His iced tea is entirely too sweet, not how Emily makes it, but he makes do. Peter is grateful for this last piece of pity he has received before they kill him.

Peter hasn’t had a chance to live a full life, and it’s a shame he doesn’t. Great things will happen after he leaves your world. Do not think me angry or anything. This is not my punishment for him, it’s yours. I do not find him a failure for what has happened. Or a disappointment, I understand that things can happen. Even bad things.

You can see now he was a normal human being trying to live his life the best, and only way, he could. A normal human being, maybe just like you, or your dad, is marched down the hallway. The only one who has come to bid him goodbye is Patricia. She says she loves him, and she’ll miss him. He doesn’t answer, though. He can see the hate in her eyes. Peter doesn’t want to cry. It’s too late for that.

He sits in the chair calmly. The doctor injects a lethal fluid into his arm, and he closes his eyes as his life runs away from him. The memories, pain, and happiness; all of it flees his body. His sister cries harder, and then leaves before the process is complete.

Peter’s body is soon limp and lifeless. He is dead now, and some of the cruel people in the world think society is better off with him gone. Take heed, however. Do not be so quick to cast your judgments on others. A man is dead now, and the people he loves mourn, despite their own judgments about him.

Some can be so horrible and mighty to pass out consequences to others. And who do you think you are exactly?

Like I said, it’s just a simple story. Just a life lost, among the millions I’ve created, and the millions you’ve destroyed. Not a big deal…right?

1892 — Prime Minister Sir John Abbott, diagnosed with stomach cancer while visiting England for medical advice, sent a letter of resignation to his House leader back in Ottawa, Sir John Thompson. The letter is to be used at Thompson’s convenience.

Announcing the resignation, Thompson becomes Prime Minister. He assumes the role he has virtually been exercising for past year and a half, since Abbott was a member of the Senate and not an MP.

Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott called for more support for black teachers and more action against institutional racism in schools. She was responding to a report by researchers at Manchester University and analysts at Education Data Surveys which says that institutional racism is partly responsible for the lack of Black and ethnic minority teachers in leadership roles.

Currently only 1% of headteachers in England come from a Black or ethnic minority background, despite the BME presence in the population as a whole being 10.1%.

Almost half of the ethnic minority teachers interviewed said they had been the victim of some sort of discrimination based on their ethnicity and 70% said they thought it was harder for ethnic minority teachers to become headteachers.

Commenting on the findings today Diane Abbott said:

”I am concerned by these findings but not altogether surprised. For years black teachers have been telling me about the difficulties of getting promoted and making it to the top of their profession. I have regularly pushed the education department to seriously address the under-representation of black and ethnic minority teachers in headship’s.  Having more Black and ethnic minority heads would help to diversify the whole teaching workforce and would provide brilliant authority role models for youngsters. There is some great work being done by organisations such as the London Centre for Leadership in Learning diversity programme but we need more of this work.”

Platinum Tears believes black and minority ethnic role models should be used wherever possible not only  in order to create an image of an inclusive profession to fellow peers.  But in addition for our community to grow positively, those black/ethnic minority pupils may be able to make a make a connection between the behaviour modelled by ethnic teachers and their own behaviour, aspirations or achievement.

The American Heart Association’s 2009 Scientific Sessions released the results of the Arterial Biology for the Investigation of the Treatment Effects of Reducing Cholesterol 6:  HDL and LDL Treatment Strategies in Atherosclerosis (ARBITER 6-HALTs) trial earlier this week.  And now medical office phones are ringing.  Patients are asking, should I stay on my current cholesterol lowering medication or should I go on Niaspan? 

This study consisted of 363 participants who were on statin (90% were on Lipitor (Atorvastatin) and Zocor (Simvastatin))medications for at least 3 months prior to enrollment into the study.  The mean statin dosage was 42 mg.   These participants were then divided in half.   One group received Ezetimibe (Zetia) 10 mg daily while the other half received Niaspan 2000 mg daily (titrated up over 2 months ). 

All participants had the following:

                -LDL (bad) Cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL

                -HDL (good) Cholesterol less than 50 mg/dL

                -Known vascular or coronary disease risk equivalents

Baseline Statistics of both groups:

                Mean LDL 84mg/dL  and Mean HDL 43mg/dL  (Ezetimibe group)

                Mean LDL 81mg/dL and Mean HDL 42mg/dL  (Niacin group)

After  14 months of treatment – the results:

Mean LDL decreased from 84 mg/dL to 66 mg/dL ; HDL decreased from 43 mg/dL  to 40 mg/dL; Triglycerides decreased by 7%  in Ezetimibe (Zetia) group.

Mean LDL decreased from 81 mg/dL to 71 mg/dL; HDL increased from 42 mg/dL to 50 mg/dL; Triglycerides decreased by 21%: in the Niacin arm.

Primary Endpoint:

Carotid Intima Media Thickness :

                -Niaspan (Niacin) arm  Statistically significant regression

                -Ezetimibe (Zetia)  arm  Did not have significant regression but did stop progression

Secondary Endpoints Include:

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Death, MI(Heart Attack), Coronary Revascularization (heart stent or balloon to open artery or open heart surgery), Unstable Angina (unstable chest pain)

Ezetimibe (Zetia) group had 9 of the secondary endpoint events out of 165 participants.  This is 5.5% in the 14 months of the trial.

Niacin group had 2 of the primary endpoint events out of 169 participants.  This is 1.2% in the 14 months of the trial.

Dr. James O’Keefe, Cardiologist at the Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, reports “This is a big win for the Niacin + Statin combination treatment.  We have had other randomized studies such as HATS and FATS, both of which are smaller studies like ARBITER 6, which although not powered to show event reduction, did find significantly better cardiovascular outcomes with niacin”.

I was able to attend the meeting at the AHA Session earlier this week.  The presenter and lead investigator, Dr. Allen Taylor, from Medstar Research Institute, Washington, DC, reported that in 2008 there were 9 million U.S. patients receiving treatment with Zetia and 2.5 million U.S. patients receiving treatment with Niacin.  Although niacin isn’t an easy drug to use, due to its’ flushing side effect we should make strong efforts to help our patients tolerate this medication.  Over time the flushing becomes less often, less intense and less in duration.  In one Niaspan study, participants who took the medication for 6 months had approximately 2 flushes per month.   Dr. James O’Keefe reports, “patients should avoid sustained release over the counter (OTC) niacin products, as they are more hepatotoxic  (toxic to liver) than the immediate release (IR) OTC niacin or prescription, Niaspan. “

In summary, if you are taking cholesterol medications we recommend you do not stop your medications  without speaking with your health care provider.   If you are taking an over the counter niacin product make sure it is an immediate release niacin or we recommend taking prescription form Niaspan-which is often more tolerable.  “In our experience, which is supported by this recent study, the combination of niacin with a statin such as Simvastatin (Zocor), Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is a great way to go both for buffing the cholesterol numbers and improving cardiovascular prognosis,” Dr. James O’Keefe.

Print Club London are going to be weilding the pencils of Yuletide in December.  Print Club is an East London based screenprinting studio that came to my attention because of the great summer show they do.  Lots of previous Heavy Pencil artists have been involved and made beautiful prints with them so it was only a matter of time.  Rose stallard is the co-founder and she’ll be bringing, Chrissie Abott, Hand Wash Studio, and Danny Sangra along.

Flachlaender - Zweidimensionales Denken populaerer denn je

Eines der häufigsten Argumente das unsere Ach-so-schlauen atheistischen Mitbürger gegen die Existenz Gottes bis zum Erbrechen verwenden, ist die hochintelligente Frage, so wie z.B. gestellt von “Horulis” als Kommentar auf unseren Videoclip “Warum das Leben nicht von selbst entstehen konnte” (lediglich Zusammenschnitte aus dem Dokumentarfilm “Dem Geheimnis des Lebens auf der Spur“): “wenn alles einen schöpfer brauch , wer schuf gott ? “

Wahrscheinlich hat Horulis nie Deep Space 9 geguckt. (Wär ja auch wahrscheinlich viel zu heftig gewesen…)

In der ersten Folge dieser Sci-Fi-Serie (von der manche sagen dass sie wohl der beste Ableger der Star Trek Reihe war) wird unser Held Captain Sisco (Später auch als “der Abgesandte” oder schlicht “der Sisco” bekannt) auf einer Reise durch ein Wurmloch von den Bewohnern desselben, den “Propheten” entführt. Das heisst, nur sein Geist wird gekidnappt.

Es handelt sich bei den “Propheten” um geistige Wesen, sprich, Bewohner einer anderen Dimension.

Dass unser Universum mehr als die uns bekannten 4 physikalischen Dimensionen (Länge, Breite, Höhe plus Zeit) benötigt um zu existieren, ist übrigens schon lange keine Science Fiction mehr, sondern spätestens seit der String-Theorie anerkannte Wissenschaft.

Die “Propheten” fühlen Sisco auf den Zahn um herauszufinden was für eine Art Wesen jene Zweibeiner sind die da ihr Habitat invadieren, und ob sie gutmütig oder feindselig sind. Durch seine Gedankenzüge stellen sie fest, dass die menschliche Denkweise eine Eigenschaft hat, die sich von der ihren existenziell unterscheidet:

Sie bemerken immerzu, “Lineares Denken.”

Sprich: unsere menschliche Denkweise basiert auf linearer (quasi eindimensionaler) Ebene. Alles beginnt bei Punkt A, geht zu Punkt B, usw. Für die Propheten ist das alles ziemlich primitiv.

Was also die Leute tun, die versuchen, Gott in ihr lineares Denkschema zu pressen indem sie fragen “Ja wer hat denn dann Gott erschaffen?” ist, einer höheren Dimension die selben Regeln aufzuerlegen denen wir in der unseren untertan sind.

Das wäre dann vergleichbar mit dem Akt eines vierjährigen Kindes das um 7 in’s Bett muss und seinen Eltern befiehlt: “So, dann müsst ihr jetzt auch schlafen.”

Wir mögen nicht allzuviel über jene andere Dimension, die “Geistwelt” wissen, aber eines verraten uns die Quellen: Sie ist nicht unserer Zeitrechnung unterlegen. Daher wird Gott auch “der Ewige” genannt.

(Christen die behaupten es gebe keine Geistwelt schiessen sich uebrigens selbst in’s Bein, da Gott Selbst Geist ist (Joh.4:24).)

Und nur weil lineare “von A nach B” Denker Schwierigkeiten damit haben, sich so etwas wie einen Kreis, geschweigedenn einen Ball (Drei Dimensionen…. Uiiiiiihhh!) vorzustellen, bedeutet das nicht, dass es so etwas nicht gibt.

Bereits im Jahre 1884 schrieb der Engländer Edwin Abbott ein Buch über solch zweidimensionale Eintöner, die auch im 21. Jahrhundert noch die Welt beherrschen, und nannte es “Flachland” (auch “Flächenland” in anderen Übersetzungen), eben über jene überragende (wenn auch hinterbliebene) Mehrheit, denen nichts schwerer fällt, als sich vorzustellen, dass es möglicherweise etwas höheres als ihre eigene Existenzebene geben könnte.

Nur weil die Realität einer 3., 4., oder gar 5. Dimension die Gehirnkapazität und das Fassungsvermögen des Großteils unserer sich vorzugsweise auf 2 Dimensionen beschränkten Mitmenschen überschreitet, bedeutet das keineswegs, dass diese weniger echt seien, oder dass die schmerzhafte Ignoranz der Flachländer auch nur den geringsten Einfluss auf sie hätte.

Das einzige was diese steinharte Ignoranz bewirkt, ist, dass sie das Leben denen schwerer macht, die – obwohl auch noch in dieser Welt zu Gast – weiter sehen können als bis zur eigenen Nasenspitze, und ihnen sehr sehr viel Schmerz zwischen den Ohren bereitet.

Es kommt dann zwar viel Geschrei, „Dann überzeug’ mich doch…“ aber man kann die Fähigkeit, die eigene Arroganz beiseite zu lassen und für einen Moment lang in Erwägung zu ziehen, dass es eine höhere Eben geben mag als die eigene, die den Regeln des physikalischen Universums nicht untertan ist, nur schwerlich durch Argumente vermitteln.

Wahrscheinlich übertrifft es einfach die Vorstellungskraft der meisten Leute, dass es ausserhalb unseres gigantischen Universums noch etwas größeres geben könnte, das es hervorgebracht hat.

Aber anzunehmen dass der Schöpfer des Universums den selben Regeln wie Seine Schöpfung unterliegt, wäre genau so wie die Annhame, dass ein Architekt ebenfalls aus Backstein und Mörtel bestehen muss.

Vor allem aber herrscht da die panische Angst davor, die Linie zu überschreiten die unsere Herren und Meister hinter den Kulissen uns durch ihre pausenlose Gehirnwäsche mit ihrem kostspielig fabrizierten Evolutionsgesülz eingeprägt haben, die sich die meisten Leute ebenso wenig weigern anzuzweifeln, wie unsere Vorfahren sich geweigert hätten „Heil Hitler!“ zu schreien.

Aber die Taktik Hitlers funktioniert im 21. Jahrhundert besser denn je, und in keiner anderen Hinsicht so effektiv wie auf die Evolutionslehre: „Wenn du den Leuten eine Lüge auftischen willst, dann lass es so eine dreiste Lüge sein, dass es ihnen nicht im Traum einfallen würde, dass du so abgebrüht sein könntest eine dermaßen große Lüge in die Welt zu setzen“ (in’s moderne deutsch übertragen)…

Und genau wie damals tun die Leute immer noch das gleiche: Sie schlucken und schlucken und schlucken…

…bis das Gift ihnen im Hals stecken bleibt.

(Und wer nicht schluckt, bekommt die neue Judenbinde: das Label „Sekte.“)

On November 12 2009 PanGenetics, an antibody development company, announced it had granted to Abbott the global rights to PG110, PanGenetic’s humanized antibody to Nerve Growth Factor. PG110 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with osteoarthritis and represents a promising new therapeutic for the treatment of chronic pain. PanGenetic will receive an upfront payment of US$170 million plus additional milestone payments, for a total of up to US$190 million.

NHK Trophy yarışmasından sonra 2009-2010 Grand Prix serisinin dört yarışması tamamlanmış oldu. 13 Kaım’da serinin beşinci yarışması Skate America başlıyor. Bu yarışmanın bizim açımızdan özelliği, Tuğba Karademir’in de yarışacak olması. Tuğba, 2007 ve 2008’den sonra üçüncü kez Skate America yarışmasına giriyor.

2009 NHK Trophy yarışmalarında şu dersler çıkarılabilir:

Johnny Weir ve Brian Joubert kendine geliyor.  Jeremy Abbott ile Daisuke Takahashi daha yarı yoldalar

Grand Prix yarışmalarına hayal kırıklığına uğrayarak başlayan Johnny Weir (Rusya’da dördüncü) ve Brian Joubert (Fransa’da beşinci), NHK Trophy yarışmasında kendilerin gelmeye başladı.

Joubert, teknik açıdan toparlandı ve her iki programında da dörtlü atlayış yaptı. Jobert programlarında iki ya da üç dörtlü yapmayı düşünen bir patenci. Ancak, 2006 Cup of Russia yarışmasından bu yana aynı programda üç dörtlü atlayış hiç yapmadı. Fransa’daki Trophée Eric Bompard yarışmasında iki dörtlü yapmayı denedi ama sorunla karşılaşınca Nagano yarışmasında ihtiyatlı olmayı tercih etti. Böylece, serbest programında tek dörtlü atlayışla yetindi.

2007 Dünya şampiyonu patenci, Nagano’da ortaya koyduğu iyi perfomans sayesinde kendine güveninin arttığını söylüyor ve Avrupa Şampoiyonası ve Kış Olimpiyatlarında daha fazla dörtlü denemeyi düşündüğünü belirtiyor. Bu sezon, üst düzeyli patenciler hep ihtiyatlı olmayı tercih etti ve dörtlülere pek yüz vermedi.

Weir, dikkatinin dağıldığı ve programa ilgisinin azaldığı Rusya’daki yarışmanın tersine Nagano’da daha dikkatliydi. Daha farklı kaydı, seyirciyle daha çok iletişim içinde oldu. Japonya’da toplam 217.70 puan elde etti ancak bu skor, 230 ve 240 puan alanlardan hâlâ uzakta bulunuyor.

Weir, programlarının teknik zorluk derecesini yükseltebilir. Onun yarışmalarda hiç hatasız bir dörtlü yaptığı görülmedi. Daha üst sıralara tırmanabilmesi için Weir’in daha fazla şey yapması, daha iyi yapması ve bunun yollarını bulması gerekiyor.

2009 ABD şampiyonu Jeremy Abbott, kısa programda iyiydi, İkinci oldu ama serbest programdaki kötü kayışı onu bir anda saf dışı bıraktı. Gerçi, bu yarışma Abbott’un bu sezonki ilk yarışmasıydı. Dörtlü denedi ve düştü. Ayrıca dörtlü olarak değil de üçlü olarak puan aldı. Daha doğrusu sadece 1 puan aldı. Bu da, elbette kendisi için iyi olmadı.

Daisuke Takahashi de, yarı yolda olanlardan. Eski günlerini hatırlatır biçimde sundu programlarını ancak tam hazır değildi. Seyirciyle iletişimi, buzda kayışı yerli yerinde olan Takahashi, atlayışlarda sıkıntılı göründü. 2007 Dünya ikincisi patenci, şimdiye kadar elde edilen en yüksek serbest programına sahip. O programında iki başarılı dörtlü atlayışi vardı. Nagano’da serbest programda bir dörtlü atlayış yaptı, düştü, atlayışın seviyesi düşürüldü ve puan kaybetti.

Weir ve Joubert gibi, Abbott ve Takahashi’nin de bir sonraki yarışmada daha iyi olmaları bekleniyor.

Miki Ando’yu unutmayın

İkinci yarışmasında da altın madalya kazanan Miki Ando, bu durumda Japonya’nın bir numaralı patencisi konumunda bulunuyor. Grand Prix finalinde Yu-Na Kim’e bir numaralı rakip olması bekleniyor. Ando, iki yarışmada da ihtiyatlı göründü ve kazanmak için en zor atlayışlarını yapmasına gerek olmadığını gördü. Uyguladığı bu strateji, meyvalarını verdi. Ancak, final yarışmasında Kim’e çok ciddî bir rakip olmak istiyorsa, serbest programında üçlü-üçlü kombinasyonuna ve ikili axel-üçlü toeloop kombinasyonua ihtiyacı olacak. Hatırlanması gereken bir nokta: 2009 Dünya Şampiyonasında herkes Yu-Na Kim-Mao Asada düellosuna dikkatini çevirmişken 2007 Dünya şampiyonu Miki Ando aradan sıyrıldı, Asada’yı saf dışı bıraktı ve kendisi bronz madalya kazandı.

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Wagner geliyor

Grand Prix yarışmaslarında bir gümüş ve bir bronz madalya kazanan Amerikalı Ashley Wagner, diğer takım arakaşlarını geride bıraktı. Bu sonuçla final yarışmasına katılma ihtimali var. Bu da kendisi için ilk olacak ve 18 yaşındaki patenciye büyük tecrübe kazandıracak.

Antenörü Priscilla Hill ile ikinci sezonuna giren Wagner, mücadeelci tarafını korurken bir yandan da artistik yanını geliştirdi. Lutz’a girerken bazen hatalı kenar kulanıyor. Bunu düzeltirse, serbest programına canlılık katar ve adım dizilerinde hızını korursa, daha da iyi olacağı kesin… Otoritelerin dediği bu. Onlara göre, Wagner, Rusya ve Japonya yarışmalarında aldığı madalyalarla Amerikalı bayanların geçmeleri gereken çıtayı yerine yerleştirmiş oldu.

Çiftlerde işler zor, en canlı örneği de Yuko Kavaguti

Rus Yuko Kavaguti son iki yılda üç defa fırlatmalı dörtlü salchow denemesinde fena şekilde düştü. Kurallar gereğince, Kavaguti bir süre programa ara verdi ve sonra Kavaguti/Smirnov çifti, kaldıkları yerden hiçbir şey olmamışcasıma devam etti.

Ama aslında oldu. Olan şu: Bu düşmeden dolayı Kavaguti’nin omzu çıktı. Onu yerine yerleştirmek için tıbbî müdahele gerekti. Programa uzun süre ara verildi. Programı bu şekilde tamamlamak da, elbette Kavaguti için zor oldu.

Kavaguti, 2008 Rusya Şampiyonasında aynı şekilde düşmüş ve yine omzu çıkmıştı. Aynı şekilde, 2009 Dünya Şampiyonasında da bu kez de yanağını buza çarpmıştı.

Fırlatmalı dörtlü salchow’yu yarışmada yapmak, risk anlamına geliyor. Temel değeri sekiz puan olan fırlatmalı dörtlü salchow’da düşseniz bile dört puan alıyorsunuz (-3 puan GOE – 1 düşmeden dolayı kesildikten sonra). Bu da aşağı yukarı fırlatmalı üçlü salchow (temel değeri 4.5 puan) ile aynı puana geliyor. Verdiğiniz ara, izin verilen süreyi aşarsa, 2 puan kaybetme ihtimaliniz daha var. Nagano’da böyle oldu. Ama iyi yapılan bir fırlatmalı dörtlü salchow’da 11 puan almanız da mümkün.

İyi yapılan fırlatmalı üçlü salchow’ya ilave puanlar da geliyor. Örnek vermek gerekirse, Qing Pang/Jian Tong çifti, Nagano yarışmasında fırlatmalı üçlü salchow’dan (ilave GOE ile) 6.59 puan aldı.

İyi düşünmek lâzım. Alınan risk, karşılığını verecek mi? Kavaguti/Smirnov çifti ve antrenörleri Tamara Moskvina, bunca denemeden sonra bunu düşünmeye başlamışlardır…

Önlerinde başka bir örnek de var. 2006 Torino Kış Olimpiyatlarında Çinli Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang çiftinden Dan’ın fırlatmalı dörtlü salchow’da kötü biçimde düşmesi ve ara verdikten sonra kaldıkları yerden serbest programa devam etmeleri, aslında gümüş madalya kazanmalarına yardımcı olmuştu.

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Abbott completed its acquisition of the medical devices company Evalve Inc on November 2 2009. Evalve specialises in the development of devices for minimally invasive repair of mitral valves. Abbott acquired the remaining outstanding equity of Evalve that it did not already own for an upfront payment of US$320 million, plus a US$90 million payment if certain regulatory milestones are met.

LIBERAL frontbencher Tony Abbott today blamed Kevin Rudd’s immigration policies for the tragedy unfolding off the Cocos Islands…. From The Australian. Full story

This site may contain information about: boat price. The blog is also related to: fishing boats for sale.

October 2009

Finally. Started. Listening.

Well October, I didn’t know you were here, and now you’re gone.  Old friend I don’t know if you know, but this is our 22nd year together.  Do you remember when I dressed up as Peter Pan for Halloween and my older sister dressed up like Tinkerbell.  I was so mad about wearing panty-hose, and also a little mad that Tinkerbell was double my size.  We’ve had a lot of good times together.

October, this time was a bit different than it had been in the past, but still exciting with new twists and turns.  It was great getting to go back to Oklahoma for OSU’s Homecoming.  Getting to see old friends and spend time with them.  This is something I greatly missed, and it is something I greatly think I needed.

My grandparents came in and we spent some quality time together, and I rounded you out with a couple Halloween parties and a good old Haunted house.  October this year you were awfully good to me.

But October I think that I’ve been neglecting something and all it took was one trip to Oklahoma.

October you always are there.  Every year I can count on you coming through and being the month right after September and you get me ready for November. I forgot that I’m here in Conway for a reason.  I can’t neglect that this is home, as short of a time that I may be here I can’t neglect that fact.  The fact that home isn’t something you find, but something you make.  Let me repeat that more emboldened, October.

Home isn’t something you find, it’s something you make.

I think that’s important.  We can’t wait for life to take us over, we need to take over life.  Is it hard because I have people I care deeply about that aren’t here?  Yeah, it is, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth doing. October, who knows… this time next year Conway, Arkansas could feel more like home than anywhere ever has.  It just depends on what I make of myself here.

What I do know, October, is that you are always an adventure and always a little different than the year before.  Don’t tell all the other months, but you are really my favorite.  You always seem to shake me to my core.  I’m glad for that.

Oh and more on “listening” another time.  I’ll let you know what I hear.

Challenge

Take a Chance With Love

I’m not sure what this might mean to you, but I can tell you that in my life I’ve always come out better if I took a chance on love instead of backing down.  Don’t over-think things.  Half if not all the time we are over-thinking every step in our life, and especially when it comes to love.  Don’t regret the things you never got to say, or the things you should have said.  Say those things now.  Do those things now. Take a chance with Love.

Books I’m Reading

This month was an off month for reading. I didn’t enjoy these books as much, but I did decide to read the original vampire book in honor of Halloween.

I don’t think I’ll ever read the Twilight series.  Vampires should be scary, not super attractive and just wanting to love. #soapbox

War & Peace ~ Leo Tolstoy

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions ~ Edwin A., Abbott

The Time Machine ~ H.G. Wells

Dracula ~ Bram Stoker

Album of the Month

Alright this month has been a little interesting, so i decided to go with a nice little Icelandic group called Sigur Rós.  Pardon the naked butts on their album cover, but their music is amazing.  Don’t believe me?  Well check out the videos below.  I don’t know what they are singing, but I don’t’ really care.  It just sounds good.

Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust ~ Sigur Rós

Long post… wow sorry… October was packed.

1893 & 1915 — Two caretaker Prime Ministers from the 1890s die on this date. Sir John Abbott’s stomach cancer had forced him to resign as Prime Minister in November 1892; he dies 11 months later.

Sir Charles Tupper is the same age as Abbott, but lives nearly a quarter-century longer, passing away in his sleep at Bexley Heath, his English estate. He is the last of the 36 Fathers of Conderation to die.

As I have grown up I have begun to realize how increasingly unimportant the prescience of a mummy is during the Halloween season. When I was little, mummies were everywhere.  There were mummy tombs in my neighbor’s front yards, dogs wrapped in tissue paper, and plastic Mcnugget buddies Happy Meal toys with clip on bandages.

Maybe the fad has died out; the last decent mummy movie was, in fact, The Mummy (1999) starring Brendan Frasier and Rachel Weisz.  It is time for us to relive the terror of the linen cloaked corpse.

How do I propose we re-introduce ourselves to the horror? By introducing ourselves to the laughter.  The first mummy I knew and loved was Klaris, from Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955). Klaris kicked it old school, he wasn’t computer animated like mummies would be today, Klaris was a real human, stuntman Eddie Parker, wrapped in real linen, with a real clue hidden inside his sarcophagus.  Klaris was so chill, after his re-death in the movie both Abbott and Costello adopt his linen.

Klaris and friends, I miss your aged strips of cloth, your hunger for revenge and your everlasting quests to find your internal organs.

Mummies, I miss your face- Shassie

Fun Fact: In the movie Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, the title characters are actually named Peter and Freddie, but throughout the movie they refer to each other as their real names Abbott and Costello.

On October 20 2009 Abbott acquired the privately held eye care company Visiogen. Through the acquisition Abbott’s gains a next-generation accommodating intraocular lens technology to address presbyopia for cataract patients. Designed to mimic the eye’s natural ability to change focus the technology enables improved vision at all distances, potentially eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses, reducing glare and nighttime halos, and improving contrast sensitivity. Abbott paid $400 million cash for Visiogen and follows another acquisition by the company back in February 2009 of Advanced Medical Optics which had a range of cataract, refractive and corneal products.

Not bad.  It took me a few meals to get the hang of it, and so I drank a lot slower than Mom and Dad wanted.  So far, I haven’t put much of it back on my bib or my blanket.  I have noticed that my breath is a little funkier.

From what I’ve heard, Mom and Dad switched brands either because (1.) there’s an ongoing boycott against Nestle or (2.) they ran out of the Nestle Good Start and there are several free sample cans of this stuff in the cabinet.  Seems like the second option is more likely to be true because you can boycott Similac too or even Enfamil.  For that matter, you can pretty much boycott anything.  Like t-shirts!